Responsive, Safe and Sustainable in General Practice
Created: 25 September 2015 Updated: 15 September 2016
A new vision for a ‘sustainable, modern and flexible’ general practice is published by the BMA this week.
The vision, 'Responsive, safe and sustainable: towards a new future for general practice', is based on a series of key recommendations drawn from consultations with both doctors and patients.
BMA GPs committee chair Chaand Nagpaul said that the vision sought to address chronic issues facing the sector such as recruitment and retention, infrastructure and investment, and rising patient demand.
He added that the growing number of GP trainee vacancies meant that the UK risked losing out on an entire generation of new doctors put off from pursuing a career in general practice.
He said: ‘General practice is at a crossroads after a decade of rising patient demand and falling resources.
'The BMA’s largest ever survey of GPs earlier this year found that one in three were considering retiring in the next five years as almost all reported that they were struggling to manage patient demand.
‘Last month, there were more than 600 vacancies for GP trainee places across England, showing that a generation of new medical graduates are turning their backs on a career as a GP.
‘We have a general practice that, despite the best efforts of GPs, does not have the infrastructure, coordination, staff or funding to deliver effective services to patients.’